“After around 24 years of age, players show slowing in a measure of cognitive speed," says lead author Joe Thompson. He and his colleagues printed their findings in the April 9 edition of the journal PLOS One.

It's not all bad news though: We compensate for the slower speed by acquiring more strategy and savviness.

“The older player is slower than the younger player, but they can be equivalent players, so cunning does come into play," associate professor Mark Blair told the Vancouver Sun.